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The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum will present an illustrated lecture by Milton C. Sernett, Ph.D. on Harriet Tubman: Myth, Memory and History, on Sunday July 17, 2011 at 2 p.m. at the Smithfield Community Center, 5255 Pleasant Valley Road, Peterboro NY 13134. Harriet Tubman was an ardent abolitionist, who contributed to the efforts of the Underground Railroad after escaping from slavery herself. Her reputation as a visionary has led her to remain an icon in American history, and in return her life has oftentimes been studied and written about.

This illustrated lecture tells the story of how a poor and illiterate black woman, once enslaved but self-liberated, became the dominant symbol of the Underground Railroad and an inspiration today for Americans of diverse backgrounds and reform interests. Audiences hear of the exciting findings of the latest research regarding Tubman the historical person, and of the many ways in which her life has been celebrated by writers, artists, and other creative spirits. Dr. Sernett has completed a book on the interplay of myth, memory and history during the years when Tubman was being canonized as an American saint.

Dr. Sernett is professor emeritus of African American Studies and History, and taught at Syracuse University for over thirty years. He has published eight books and numerous articles and essays, many of them dealing with American abolitionism, the Underground Railroad, and African American history. He has given presentations on the Underground Railroad, Abolitionism, and Harriet Tubman on many occasions for the Scholar’s program of the New York Council for the Humanities. Dr. Sernett has also served as a consultant to numerous organizations interested in documenting local and regional history pertaining to the Underground Railroad and Abolitionism.

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The Madison County Historical Society will be awarding the Charles E. Page Summer History Camp Scholarship to a Madison County child between the ages of 8-12 years. The scholarship valued at the enrollment cost of $60 will be granted to a child that has an interest in learning about history.

The day camp will be held August 2-4 and will run from 10 am to 3 pm daily at the Madison County Historical Society. The camp will explore various art forms, trends, and games prevalent at the turn of the 20th century in America. The program includes a series of presentations and activities; including bead-making, toy-making, cooking, performing music, touring the historical society, and much more. The camp will be led by MaryBeth Russo, a fourth grade teacher at Willard Prior, and a Trustee on the Madison County Historical Society’s Board.

To qualify for the scholarship the child must be a Madison County resident between the ages of 8- 12 years. The child must also submit a 100 word or less essay describing why learning about history is interesting and important to you. Essays will be judged on creativity, neatness, and grammar.  Typed or handwritten essays are acceptable.

The society’s summer history camp is named in memory of Charles E. Page.  Mr. Page, a native of Madison County, operated a farm for 20 years until he was appointed Farm Employment Representative in New York State Department of Labor. Mr. Page's hobbies were gardening, wood sculpture, violin playing, collecting, genealogy, and writing about Madison County.  His passion for learning and teaching history is best recounted by his children who fondly remember their father instilling in them the importance of teaching respect for every aspect of our heritage. 

All submissions must be postmarked no later than July 15th and sent to the Madison County Historical Society, Attn: Charles E. Page Scholarship Award, 435 Main Street, Oneida, NY 13421. The award recipient will be notified July 21th   by telephone. Please include your name, address, age, and phone number along with your essay.  For more information please call the historical society at 315.363.4136.

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For the seventh summer running, The Friends of Lorenzo will once again host this popular opportunity for children to spend a week of fun and learning during day camp at the Rippleton Schoolhouse, located on the grounds of Lorenzo State Historic Site. Originally constructed c. 1814 and moved to Lorenzo in 1997, the Schoolhouse has been carefully restored to its late 19th C appearance and sets the backdrop for a number of educational programs throughout the year.
“Miss Mattie Buckland,” the 1880’s schoolmarm at Rippleton, will be portrayed by veteran educator Barbara Cook, and will conduct a lively week of activities for participating students, ages 8 -11. Participants will explore late 19th Century rural education and related themes including costume, etiquette, leisure activities, crafts history, transportation, nature and art. The week’s activities will culminate on Friday with an “old-fashioned” strawberry social to which student families are invited. All required activity materials are covered by the week’s program fee ($150 per student; $135 for Friends of Lorenzo members) and students must bring their own lunch; snacks will be provided.
Incorporated in 1975, The Friends of Lorenzo is a not-for-profit affiliate of Lorenzo State Historic Site and is dedicated to supporting the many preservation and educational programs at the site.  Space for July 20-24 summer camp at Lorenzo is limited and the registration deadline is June 24th; for more information about this program,  please call Lorenzo (655-3200).
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In 1857 an obscure portrait painter named Louis Ransom opened a studio on busy Genesee Street in downtown Utica.  Three years later Ransom would stun his friends and others from Central New York when he completed his life-sized and life-like depiction of John Brown being led to the gallows. Warren F. Broderick, Archivist Emeritus New York State Archives, will present an illustrated program on Ransom and his famous painting at 1 p.m. Sunday, June 12 at the Smithfield Community Center, 5255 Pleasant Valley Road, Peterboro NY during the 19th Annual Peterboro Civil War Weekend.

The landmark depiction of Brown on the Charlestown court house steps became the favorite image of Brown among abolitionists, in part because of Ransom’s controversial inclusion of Brown “kissing the Negro baby.”  The painting’s history following its completion was most noteworthy.  Its brief exhibition by P.T. Barnum in New York City in 1863 led in part to the onset of the infamous draft riots.  The scene on the court house steps in 1859 is now known primarily from two lithographed versions of this painting created by the firm of Currier and Ives.  The monumental painting itself received shabby treatment from Oberlin College and is believed to have been destroyed.
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Say Cheese! 05/18/2011
 
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In 1928 the New York Holstein-Fresian Association erected a monument on Oxbow Road in the Town of Smithfield in Madison County NY to commemorate the Kriemhild Herd established in 1869 by Gerrit Smith Miller of Peterboro.  June 6, 2010 the Stewards of the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark, the Madison County Holstein Association, and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County celebrated this Holstein heritage with archives, pedigree, and collections sharing, a picnic, and a program by Milton C. Sernett PhD. Dr. Sernett, professor emeritus Syracuse University, researched the importation of the first registered Holstein-Fresians by the Miller family of Peterboro, prepared a PowerPoint presentation and wrote a book Cradle of the Breed: Gerrit Smith Miller & The Kriemhild Herd for the occasion.

In follow-up to the success of the 2010 event, Dr. Sernett, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Dutch Girl Cheese, the Gerrit Smith Estate, and the Madison County Holstein Association are planning another Holstein Heritage day on Sunday, June 5, 2011 from 2 – 5 p.m. at the Smithfield Community Center, 5255 Pleasant Valley Road, Peterboro NY 13134. This year Sernett will give an illustrated talk at 3 p.m. based upon his new book Say Cheese: The Story of the Era When New York State Cheese was King."  The book outlines the era when New York had thousands of cheese factories. In 1936 the National Cheese Institute erected a monument north of Rome NY in honor of Jesse Williams’ establishment of the first cheese factory in NYS.  Sernett also describes the 1400 pound cheddar that Oswego dairyman Col. Thomas S. Meacham created for President Andrew Jackson. It took 48 horses to transport the cheese to the canal system to get to Washington D.C.
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Alvin F. Oickle, author of The Man with the Branded Hand: The Life of Jonathan Walker, will speak and sign copies of his book at 7 p.m. Tuesday May 17th at the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark in Peterboro. Jonathan Walker was a Cape Cod sailor who was active in the abolition movement for thirty years. In 1844 Walker attempted to carry seven escaped slaves on his boat from Pensacola FL to freedom in the Bahamas. The boat was caught by bounty hunters and the fugitives were returned to the two men who claimed to own them. While undergoing two trials, Walker spent a year in a Florida jail.  In court, a United States marshal used a hot iron to mark Walker's right hand for life with the brand “SS” to show that Walker was a Slave Stealer.

Jonathan Walker’s courage was an inspiration to abolitionists, including “The Abolition Poet” John Greenleaf Whittier , who wrote the poem by the same name - The Man with the Branded Hand - in 1846. The branded hand became a symbol of dedication to the abolition cause.
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The Peterboro Mercantile, a community heritage shop, will open for the 2011 season during NY Heritage Weekend May 14 and 15.  The Mercantile is open 1-5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays until October 23 and the

E-Mercantile, the online shop, is open 24 hours a day for 365 days a year at www.mercantile.gerritsmith.org.

The Mercantile is located in the Visitor Center at 5304 Oxbow Road in Peterboro. The shop has publications, tee shirts, stationery, mugs, totes, jewelry, period toys, and other articles connected to the history of Peterboro. The sales benefit the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark and the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum. The development of the store was funded, in part, by a PACE grant from the Central New York Community Foundation.

The Mercantile is recruiting volunteers to assist at the shop during afternoons on weekends. Please contact

315-893-7636 for more information. Residents of the Town of Smithfield who have products connected to the history of Peterboro and want the items sold at the Mercantile please call 684-3262.

The Gerrit Smith Estate and the National Abolition Hall of Fame will be open from 1 – 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from May 14 to October 23 in 2011. Admission to each site is two dollars. Stewards and students are free. For more information: Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark, 4543 Peterboro Road, Peterboro NY 13134, National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum, 5255 Pleasant Valley Road, Peterboro NY 13134, www.sca-peterboro.org   www.AbolitionHoF.org 315-684-3262

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The Oneida Community Mansion House was one of six museums in the state to receive a Certificate of Commendation from Museumwise at the Museums in Conversation conference in Buffalo, NY on April 3. 
This award recognized a project funded by The Gorman Foundation to renovate, convert and equip a space in the Mansion House to properly organize, preserve, share and exhibit the Community’s photography collection. The project made this collection of approximately 12,000 photographs publicly available for the first time, fulfilling both the Oneida Community Mansion House’s mission and Strategic Plan goals in the process.

Accepting the award on behalf of the organization was Patricia A. Hoffman, Executive Director.  Hoffman attended the conference on a New York State Council on the Arts-sponsored GO Grant.  The GO grants are one of a series of grants offered to help museums and historical societies strengthen and develop their institutions and work with their communities. These grants, administered by Museumwise, are designed to make it easy for organizations to access professional help and improve their institutions. Information about these grant programs, eligibility requirements and deadlines is available on Museumwise's website at www.museumwise.org.

The Oneida Community Mansion House was the home of the 19th century utopian Oneida Community (1848-1880).  Today, the building houses a museum with permanent and changing exhibitions, residential apartments, overnight lodging, Zabroso Restaurant, and banquet and meeting space.  The Oneida Community Mansion House is located at 170 Kenwood Ave., Oneida, NY.  For information call 315-363-0745 or visit www.oneidacommunity.org. 
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The Oneida Community developed a rich musical tradition, anchored both in deep religious values and in the very worldly desire to entertain themselves.  Drawing on that tradition, four outstanding performances will be presented in the Mansion House’s Big Hall during “If Music Be the Food of Love, Play On.”  All are free to the public and each will be introduced with a story about music in the Oneida Community and followed by a reception with light refreshments. 
To kick off the series, on Wed., April 13 at 7 p.m., Christian Goodwillie (Shaker scholar and Special Collections Librarian at Hamilton College) will explain and sing a recent project to recapture the melodies of Shaker songs two hundred years old.  The first Shaker hymnal, published in 1812-13, provided only the words (without tunes) to a number of key religious songs. Through study of later musical scores, Goodwillie was able to match the lyrics to their original music.  The results include a book, an enriched field of American religious folksongs, and the haunting experience of hearing music brought to life from a distant time.
The Oneida Community Mansion House was the home of the 19th century utopian Oneida Community (1848-1880).  Today, the building houses a museum with permanent and changing exhibitions, residential apartments, overnight lodging, Zabroso Restaurant, and banquet and meeting space.  Guided tours are available Wed. through Sat., 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and Sun. at 2 p.m. for a nominal fee.  The Oneida Community Mansion House is located at 170 Kenwood Ave., Oneida, NY.  For information call 315-363-0745 or visit www.oneidacommunity.org. 

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